Edo Guber: DSS Invites ‘Kabaka, RTEAN Chair, APC Leaders
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, yesterday unveiled the structure of community policing launched by government to involve local communities in crime fighting.
Federal government had Thursday announced that N13 billion was voted for the take-off of the community policing project.
Rising from a virtual meeting, the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, mandated the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and two other governors to meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; and the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to coordinate the proper utilisation of the fund.
This comes as federal government in a bid to contain spiraling insecurity in the country, said it had commenced plans to revive the abandoned Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) projects across the country captured under the $470 million National Public Security System.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police said community policing was designed to allow communities take responsibility for the project by setting up advisory committees made up of “traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, traders, women and youths.”
The IG stated that at the local government level, the same strategy would be applied.
“At the local government level, the community policing committees will help us identify them through their wards while we select and train them. Now we are at the stage of recruiting for training.”
He said the “community advisory committee is also expected to work with the local government chairman. At the state level, the committee reports to the governor.
“Lawyers and teachers also wanted to be included in the committees, being community residents and we agreed with them.”
The IG said the N13 billion voted for the project was for the entire programme “not just for one year. It is a process.”
Meanwhile, speaking at a media briefing to commemorate his one year in office, Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingiyadi, said government had already carried out a comprehensive inspection of vandalised CCTV installations in Abuja and Lagos with a view to presenting a memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The Department for State Services (DSS), Edo State Command has invited chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Adun, popularly known as Kabaka, for a meeting in its office in Benin.
Also invited include National Chairman of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Osakpanwan Eriyo, APC leader in Oredo local government, Ehin Adam, and his counterparts in Ekpoba Okha and Ovia South West, Osaro Idahosa and Okunbor Rounts respectively.
Five other APC members were also invited to the meeting, which is scheduled for August 22, 2020 by 11 hours.
THISDAY gathered that the invitation was outcome of the private meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the former National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
A top source said that the main reason of the President’s private meeting with Oshiomhole was to caution the former APC chairman against utterances that could overheat the polity, especially as the Edo State governorship election was fast approaching.
The invitation of Kabaka and other APC leaders, it was gathered may be extended to other political parties participating at the election.
According to the source, “government will not allow anyone under the guise of politics to undermine the security well-being of the country. This invitation is to alert all the government is equal to all action and can match action for action.”
Also, the source said that DSS was in receipt of the video clips that went viral where the said Kabaka was urging people in the video on how to rig the September 19 governorship election, even urging them to go from polling stations to polling stations to ensure the rigging of the election.